Mol. Hum. Reprod. Advance Access originally published online on March 11, 2005
Molecular Human Reproduction 2005 11(4):269-277; doi:10.1093/molehr/gah161
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Progesterone receptor expression in human decidua and fetal membranes before and after contractions: possible mechanism for functional progesterone withdrawal
1Laboratory for Research in Reproductive Sciences, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 2Pathology Department, Ha'Emek Medical Center, Afula, Israel, 3Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
4 To whom correspondence should be addressed at: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ha'Emek Medical Center, Afula, 18101, Israel. E-mail: shaleve{at}tx.technion.ac.il
In humans, progesterone levels are sustained before the onset of labour. Therefore, the mechanism for parturition that has been proposed for humans is ‘functional’ progesterone withdrawal. Immunohistochemical staining for the progesterone receptor (PR) was positive in the decidua with a decline after contractions began. Western blot analysis revealed a number of PR isoforms expressed in the decidua, with the PR-B form being dominant. After contractions began, all PR isoforms decreased sharply. PR-B and PR-A decreased by 85.8%±6.7 and 78.2%±7.1, respectively (P<0.001). Incubation of decidua with Prostaglandin F2
1.0 µg/ml decreased the expression of all forms of PR isoforms. PR-B was reduced by 64%±6.09 (P<0.01); PR-A was reduced by 77%±5.9 (P<0.05), while PR-C was reduced by 80%±7.24 (P<0.05). Progesterone (80 µg/ml) increased the PR-B, PR-C the 45 and 36 kDa isoforms to 150%±7.89, 210%±12.4, 270%±9.7 and 216%±13.5, respectively (P<0.05). In immunohistochemical studies, the PR was not identified in the amnion or in the chorion, regardless of the presence or absence of contractions. Western blot analysis demonstrated that PR-C (60 kDa) and the 36 kDa isoforms were dominant in the amnion. After contractions began, PR-A decreased significantly by 61.9%±7.1 (P<0.001).
Key words: decidua/fetal membrane/induction of labor/progesterone receptor/progesterone withdrawal
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